Since my husband is unfortunately working late tonight, it was just the boys and myself for dinner this evening. Not being very hungry after a large salad for a very late lunch, I figured I would make things easy on myself and make macaroni and cheese for dinner for the kids, along with a side of grapes. My five year old helped me get the water ready to boil, while my adopted stepson washed a few dishes, with all of us chatting while we worked.

Once the water was on and the dishes were clean we didn’t waste any time getting down to business. Dad isn’t home which means; we can be as loud and obnoxious as we want! We ran around the house, playing chase with everyone screaming, laughing, and making monstrous roars at each other while dashing in and out of every room in the house in hot pursuit of one another. There were a few captures, as well as some tickles to be doled out.

After the water started to boil we calmed down and went back to the serious business of cooking, well as serious as this household of sarcastic goofballs can really be. The kids helped pour in the macaroni, and then helped each other put some clean dishes away. When dinner was all ready, my youngest son ran to his seat, asking if we could keep the TV off and ‘just talk.’ The television is normally off for dinner, but when dad isn’t home, sometimes we leave the cartoons on in the background with the volume lowered until we are finished eating, as a little treat. He knew that it was an option, but wanted to continue interacting with each other instead.

My adopted stepson agreed that the TV off would be better, and quickly went and shut it off. We had a nice dinner, some great conversation, and both boys are happily enjoying some down time with full bellies and tired legs. I too am resting contently after such a fun evening of play while making dinner. Spending the time playing with the boys, instead of trying to shoo them out of the kitchen while I got everything ready for the next step and stirred the pasta here and there, was much more fun, and quite frankly a better use of time.

Finding little moments in the day in between tasks to play with your children is an excellent way to connect with your children and strengthen the bond that the two of you share, and dinnertime is the perfect time of the day to shut everything off, sit together as a family and talk to each other about, well, anything!